What is the stage before melanoma?

The earliest stage melanomas are stage 0 (melanoma in situ), and then range from stages I (1) through IV (4). Some stages are split further, using capital letters (A, B, etc.). As a rule, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV, means cancer has spread more.

What does pT3a mean in melanoma?

pT3a: > 2.0 – 4.0 mm thickness without ulceration. pT3b: > 2.0 – 4.0 mm thickness with ulceration. pT4a: > 4.0 mm thickness without ulceration. pT4b: > 4.0 mm thickness with ulceration.

What does Insight 2 melanoma mean?

With stage II melanoma, the tumor has penetrated the skin deeper than 1 mm. It may have ulcerated, but not in all cases. Although a tumor at this stage may not have advanced, it has a high risk of spreading. A thicker melanoma, such as a tumor more than 4 mm, has a very high risk of spreading.

What does a Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage I melanoma is no more than 1.0 millimeter thick (about the size of a sharpened pencil point), with or without an ulceration (broken skin). There is no evidence that Stage I melanoma has spread to the lymph tissues, lymph nodes, or body organs.

Can melanoma be smaller than 6mm?

Melanomas are often larger than 6 mm (1/4 inch) in diameter. However, with increased awareness about early detection, about 30% of melanomas are found when they are less than 6 mm in diameter.

Can melanoma be cut out?

In most cases, melanoma is cut out by simple excision. A local anaesthetic injection is given to numb the skin that is to be removed. The doctor will cut around and under the melanoma with a scalpel. As described above, a margin of normal skin tissue surrounding the melanoma will also be cut out.

What stage is a melanoma that is 2.0 mm thick?

Stage IIB Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is more than 2.0 millimeters and less than 4.0 millimeters thick with broken skin (ulceration) or more than 4.0 millimeters without ulceration. Stage IIC Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is more than 4.0 millimeters thick with broken skin (ulceration).

How serious is melanoma in situ?

In situ melanomas don’t spread to other parts of the body or cause death, but if the tumor has an opportunity to grow even one millimeter deep into the skin, it can lead to more involved treatment and greater danger. If left untreated, it can metastasize and even become life-threatening.

What is the prognosis and survival rates for melanoma by stage?

Survival rate. A person’s response to treatment will affect their chance of survival. According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate for stage 4 melanoma is 15–20 percent. This means that an estimated 15–20 percent of people with stage 4 melanoma will be alive 5 years after diagnosis.

Is Stage 3 melanoma curable?

In stage 3A melanoma, only a microscopic amount of cancer has spread into 1 to 3 nearby lymph nodes. In many cases, stage 3A melanoma can be cured by surgical removal of the tumor and the nearby lymph nodes. According to the 2009 AJCC report, the 5-year survival rate with stage 3B melanoma is 59 percent.

Is Stage 2 melanoma serious?

All stages of melanoma are serious, but stage 2 melanoma is when the cancer becomes relatively more serious. When detected in stage 2, the cancerous mole or growth has spread from the epidermis (top layer of skin) deep into the dermis (middle layer of skin) and potentially into the underlying fat and tissue.